When did we declare war on Afghanistan?

As a historian specializing in modern warfare, I can provide a detailed account of the events leading up to the declaration of war on Afghanistan. It's important to note that the term "declaration of war" is a bit nuanced in this context, as the United States did not formally declare war on Afghanistan in the traditional sense, but rather initiated military action in response to a specific set of circumstances. Step 1: English Answer The United States' military intervention in Afghanistan is often associated with the events following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were orchestrated by the terrorist group al-Qaeda, which was led by Osama bin Laden. The U.S. government demanded that the Taliban regime, which was in control of Afghanistan at the time, hand over bin Laden and other al-Qaeda leaders. When the Taliban refused to comply, the U.S. launched Operation Enduring Freedom. On 20 September 2001, President George W. Bush delivered an ultimatum to the Taliban government, known as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The ultimatum stated that the Taliban must turn over Osama bin Laden and other al-Qaeda leaders or face military action from the United States. The Taliban's refusal to meet these demands led to the commencement of military operations on 7 October 2001. The conflict in Afghanistan was not a traditional war, and the U.S. did not issue a formal declaration of war as it might have done in previous conflicts. Instead, the U.S. Congress passed the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) on 14 September 2001, which provided the legal basis for the use of military force against those responsible for the 9/11 attacks. This resolution was later used to justify the invasion of Afghanistan. The initial goal of Operation Enduring Freedom was to dismantle the al-Qaeda network and to remove the Taliban from power, thereby preventing Afghanistan from being used as a base for future terrorist operations. The operation involved a combination of U.S. and coalition forces, including ground troops, air support, and special operations units. The military campaign in Afghanistan was complex and evolved over time. It included the removal of the Taliban regime, the establishment of a new Afghan government, and the ongoing fight against both al-Qaeda and the resurgent Taliban. The conflict also saw the involvement of NATO forces, with the alliance taking over the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in 2003. The war in Afghanistan had significant consequences for the region and the world. It led to the death of Osama bin Laden in a U.S. raid in May 2011 and the eventual withdrawal of U.S. and NATO combat troops by the end of 2014. However, the Taliban continued to maintain a presence in the country, and by August 2021, they had taken control of the country once again. **

On 20 September 2001, in the wake of the 11 September attacks, George W. Bush delivered an ultimatum to the Taliban government of Afghanistan, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, to turn over Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda leaders operating in the country or face attack.